Hockey

On Sunday Nov. 9, 2014, at 2:00 PM, Boise State Hockey Club will play against University of Idaho at the CenturyLink Arena. This event will be broadcast live on YouTube by University TV Productions, a media unit of the Boise State Department of Communication.

When someone thinks about a rivalry game, they usually think of a past where two teams have been playing one another for years. Very few get to experience one, especially when the tensions are high and the stakes are even higher.

Saturday night when the Boise State Club Hockey team faced the University of Wisconsin Superior at CenturyLink Arena, an
instant rivalry was born. Wisconsin Superior is the farthest team back east the Broncos have ever played.

“They were really chippy and tried to keep hitting after the whistle. We didn’t take too kindly of that,” said freshman goalie Josh
Benton.

Both teams were going at it from an early stage of the game to the last whistle.

In the 1st period, both teams battled hard as they scrambled to try to get ahead of one another in the score sheet. The Broncos were first to score, getting their goal from junior defender Kevin Costello with 1:30 left in the 1st period.

After a goal from the Broncos to end the 1st period, Wisconsin turned up the pressure and came out strong in the 2nd period as they scored two quick goals to put the Wisconsin Superior Yellow Jackets up 3-1 against the Broncos.

The resilient Broncos came back with an answer as they scored a goal of their own from junior forward JT Smith to finish out the 2nd period down 2-3.

The stage was set for a storybook ending from
Boise State.

10 seconds into the 3rd period Wisconsin Superior scored another goal, adding to the lead, 4-2 against the Broncos.

After that, it was all Boise State.

Both teams continued their rivalry-like fighting, even more so than in the previous two periods.

Smith netted a huge goal for the Broncos, inching closer and closer to the tie. The building momentum from Boise State was apparent in the arena atmosphere

They were playing with confidence.

A few minutes after the goal from Smith, senior center Matt Nukaya-Heady added another goal for the Broncos,
evening the score at four.

As time expired in the 3rd period, you could feel the pressure from both sides as they were headed for
overtime.

In an overtime filled with fighting, pushing, penalties and arguing, neither team was able to score as they headed to the crowd-favorite: the shoot out.

For all who don’t know what a shoot out is, it’s a one-on-one matchup against a player from the opposing team and a goalie.

“There’s a lot of pressure, but it’s also a lot of fun. You just have to tell yourself that he’s not going to score. You have to come out with a lot of confidence,” Benton said.

With two goals scored from the Broncos compared to Wisconsin Superior’s one, the Broncos made the dramatic comeback win.

The Broncos look to carry this momentum into upcoming games.

“We have a few things we have to work on, but overall: skate hard, keep it simple and put some pucks in,” said Costello.

Boise State Hockey Club the sat confidently at 4-2 last Thursday’s game against Brigham Young University.

But that wasn’t enough for the Broncos. Boise State finished with a 2-1 record of a three game series vs. BYU, Western Washington University and Santa Clara Junior College.

In the first game vs. BYU, a rivalry of the men’s club hockey team, both teams were playing very aggressively, fighting to get in leading position.

The Broncos came out hot, scoring two goals and finishing out the first period above the BYU Cougars 2-1. The two goals were scored by freshman center Cody Gut and freshman left wing Tyler Kendall.

The second period was a mirror reflection of the first period when it came to scoring. Gut continued his great performance with another goal, while sophomore right wing Morgan Cunningham scored his first goal of the night.

The third period was all about the defense and limiting penalties, which the Broncos excelled at. Boise State wouldn’t allow another goal in the third period, making the final score against BYU, 4-3.

Junior goalie Will Gagnon held the Cougars back while accumulating 30 saves on 33 shots.

In Boise State’s second game vs. Western Washington University, it was nothing short of a storybook ending for the Broncos.

In the first period it was a dead-even fight between both teams, leaving the score 0-0. It was a period full of defense, but also from penalties as both teams weren’t backing down to one another, causing multiple fights.

As emotions were running high, the Broncos headed into the second period. Finally, offense emerged for both Boise State and WWU. At the end of the second period, the score was 2-2. Rusty Costello, junior defensemen and J.T. Smith, junior left wing, were credited for both of the Broncos scores.

Defense would once again be the story in the third, as both teams went scoreless leading into overtime. But it seemed the hockey gods had something different in mind for Boise State and WWU. Neither team scored in overtime, which meant the fan-favorite, shoot-out.

The energy in Century Link Stadium was electric, as the crowd roared into the first shoot-out attempt. Both teams would go on to make their first shots, Kevin Costello scoring for the Broncos. On WWU’s rebuttal shot against the Broncos, freshman goalie Josh Benton made the crucial stop. Allowing for Gut to make the game-winning shot of the shoot-out, Boise State won 5-4.

Coming off a huge victory vs. WWU, the Broncos headed into the third and last game of the series vs. Santa Clara.

Santa Clara came out firing on all cylinders, gaining a quick 3-point lead within six minutes of the 1st. But the Broncos held them to only those scores, headed into a 3-0 Santa Clara lead into the second period.

In the second period, the Broncos played much better defense, only allowing 1-point with a point scored by Gut, making it a 1-1 game going into the third and final period.

The Broncos attempted to pull the massive comeback as Eric Haskins, junior forward and Matt Heady, senior forward both scored a point, but it was too much in the end to overcome. The Broncos fell in the end 5-4 to
Santa Clara.

The Broncos sit at a phenomenal 6-3 record as they head into the heavily publicized and rivaled game vs. University of Idaho in Century Link on Nov 10.

After a grueling practice at the CenturyLink Arena, in preparation for the Stockton game last Saturday, the amiable and action-driven Chad Nehring, who plays center and wears number 23 for the Idaho Steelheads, gave a unique insight to the world of professional hockey in Boise.

Nehring has been with the Idaho-based hockey team for the past two seasons and went from the small town of 500 people in Springside, Canada to Boise.

“I could barely walk when I first stepped foot on the ice,” Nehring said.

When he was young, his father would take him to the local rink, where he fell in love with the game.

“Back home, hockey was the thing to do; everyone played … I would carry my bag over the hill and there I was at the rink. It was always available to me,” Nehring said.

The accessibility of the rink provided him with the opportunity to hone his skills and his style of play. He describes his playing style as “physical and tough.”

His experiences with the Yorkton Terriers taught him to play tough in the gritty environment brought upon by the Saskatchewan league.

His love for hockey gave him many new opportunities to travel and be a part of three different and unique teams. He played for the Terriers, a Canadian junior Hockey league from 2004 to 2007 with his older brother Dustin and won two championships.

Nehring’s relationship with his brother gave him the opportunity to have memorable shared experiences on and off the rink.

“My brother and I have been so close. We have played hockey together for years and during the summers when I’m back in Canada, I live with him,” the Steelhead said.

While attending Lake Superior State University in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, Nehring had the opportunity to not only play hockey from ’07-’11 with the Lakers, but earned a degree in exercise science.

“The best part of college was having the chance to play hockey. We got to travel and play some really big schools like Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Michigan State,” Nehring said.

After graduating, he received a call from Idaho Steelheads Head Coach Hardy Sauter offering him and his roommate—and current teammate, Tyson Hobbins—a position on the team.

He enjoyed hia first season so much that he wanted to come back for another year.

He has enjoyed the “big city” feel of Boise and the exciting mainstream culture that it personifies. Yorkton and Sault Sainte Marie were small towns of roughly 20,000 with few social and community outlets.
Nehring said Boise has left a great impression on him and he hopes to continue his time with the Steelheads and experience Boise to its fullest.

The preceding article was written by Michael Ames, a marketing student participating in the Idaho Steelheads Internship Program presented by The Arbiter. For additional information, visit idahosteelheads.com/boisestate.

The Idaho Steelheads new defenseman, Michael Gergen, was acquired via trade from the Bakersfield Condors early this January. Over the last month and a half, Gergen has been bonding with the team and is excited to be in Boise and a part of an excellent organization.

Growing up in Hastings, Minn. it seemed every kid slipped on a pair of skates right after birth. For Gergen, he started playing at the young age of 6, where he instantly discovered his passion for hockey.

As a high school senior, he was selected by the NHL’s Pittsburg Penguins as a second-round pick, 61 overall, in 2005. However, Gergen turned down the offer and decided to play college hockey for the University of Minnesota-Duluth (UMD), where he played all four years.

In addition to his team winning the WCHA Championship his senior year at UMD, he was also named WCHA All Academic Team.

Gergens’ professional rookie season began overseas playing for a team in the elite Austrian league, the Salzburg Red Bulls. He said it was an excellent experience where he learned a lot about their culture and quickly found out nothing was convenient like it is in the U.S.

The money was great, he adapted well as a defenseman for the Red Bulls, won a league championship and skated in the playoffs (contributing eight points in five games). After only one season in Austria, Gergen decided to try professional hockey in North America and started his career in the ECHL with the Utah Grizzlies.

Time with the Grizzlies was brief and Gergen was released Dec. 19, 2010.The down-time was short lived, as the Bakersfield Condors announced they signed him to a contract the following week. He enjoyed playing in California for almost a year.

However, things weren’t going well with the team and in December, Gergen suffered a concussion and was unable to play for a couple of weeks.

Once Gergen was cleared for play, he was traded to the Idaho Steelheads and now proudly wears the number 20 Idaho sweater (jersey).

Gergen and the team have been extremely busy over the last couple months, always on the road with fierce competition.

“It’s nice to get a fresh start and I’m excited to be in Boise,” Gergen said.

He doesn’t have much down-time, but says he’s living a pretty simple life and enjoys going out for sushi in his spare time.

The preceding article was written by Lauren Horton, a marketing student participating in the Idaho Steelheads Internship Program presented by The Arbiter. For additional information, visit idahosteelheads.com/boisestate.

The Idaho Steelheads (23-21-2-3) faced their toughest opponent as the Alaska Aces (33-13-6), the reigning 2011-2012 Kelly Cup champions. The two rivals took the ice on Wednesday, Feb. 8, Friday the 10 and Saturday the 11. Seven of Alaska’s nineteen losses have come from the Steelheads with two of them occurring in the last series, resulting in the Steelheads beating the Aces 7-6 in their match-ups this season.

Wednesday started the series between the two and began with a great defensive effort for both teams, leaving the first period scoreless. Less than five minutes into the second period, Patrick Kennedy (Forward) scored on a power play giving the Steelheads a 1-0 lead on the Aces.

The Aces answered when Nick Mazzolini scored on a power play, and shortly after, Idaho maintained their lead with Derek Leblanc’s 11 goal of the season. The Steelheads expanded the gap when newcomer Aaron Lewicki scored his first goal with the Steelheads in the third. Mazzolini struck again with a second power play goal late in the game, but it was not enough to push the Aces to a win, resulting in a 3-2 victory for Idaho.

Friday’s game drew a large crowd with 4,853 fans packed into CenturyLink Arena. The first goal of the night, scored by Idaho’s Stephen Schultz (newly acquired Forward), made the night look promising for the Steelheads only until Ace’s player Chad Anderson scored on a power play in the second. Idaho defenseman Adam Maccarone shot one passed Alaskan goalie Adam Courchaine, bringing the Steelheads lead to 2-1. But only held this lead for less than a minute when Dan Kissel scored against Idaho’s Jerry Kuhn.

Overtime play looked promising while the teams remained tied late into the third period, until Brian Swanson scored with only 1:34 remaining on the clock, to give Alaska the 3-2 victory.

The Steelheads began Saturday’s game fired up after Friday’s loss, starting off strong by scoring three goals in the first period in front of an impressive crowd of 4,653 fans. One of which was scored on an Alaskan power play, when Jacob Cepis caught a loose puck and passed it off to Derek LeBlanc, making it his twelfth goal of the season. Bryan Hince, Idaho’s newest goalie, showcased his skills by coming up with 34 saves and only let one puck get passed him.

The Steelheads did not give in after the 3-0 advantage going into the second, when David Fredriksson scored just 22 seconds into the period. This 4-0 lead by the Steelheads sent Alaskan goalie Adam Courchaine to the bench for the remainder of the game. In the second period, Jacob Cepis also scored on a shorthanded play bringing it to 5-0. The Steelhead’s hopes of having a shutout was expunged in the third with an Alaskan goal, but fans still cheered as the buzzer sounded and a 5-1 victory ended the series.

The Steelheads face the Utah Grizzlies at home on Wednesday, Feb. 22, Friday, Feb. 24 and Saturday, Feb. 25. The puck drops at 7:10 p.m. for all games.

This article was written by Jordan Warwick, a marketing student participating in the Idaho Steelheads Internship Program presented by The Arbiter.

Jacob Cepis joined the Idaho Steelheads in 2011, shortly after a college career with Bowling Green University and the University of Minnesota. At 24 years old, Cepis has already made a large impact with the Steelheads. Having played in 40 of the 45 games this season, Cepis is also one of the most reliable members of the Steelheads and is the leading goal scorer halfway through the 2011-12 season.

Parma, Ohio located just south of Cleveland, is home to both cold winters and hockey fans. Cepis was no exception and started playing hockey at age three. While continually crafting his gift of hockey at such a young age, Cepis grew up dreaming of one day playing in the NHL. Receiving hockey scholarships from both Bowling Green University and the University of Minnesota (each elite hockey schools) has further instilled and fueled his goal of one day playing in the NHL.

Hockey has always been considered a “big man’s game”. The 5-foot, 8-inch / 175 pound Cepis discredits this “theory” and claims his height and weight have always served as motivation.

Cepis feels his opportunities in hockey are limitless as the rules of the game have expanded and opportunity for success is wide open.

Embracing the underdog role, Cepis has seen a high level of playing time through hard work and dedication to his sport of choice.

As the Steelheads get ready for a home stand against the Alaska Aces, excitement increases, with Alaska currently leading not only the Mountain division but the entire ECHL with a record of 32-10-2-4. Five of those losses, have come from the Idaho Steelheads. Cepis acknowledges the Aces as the best team in the ECHL and the team the Steelheads look forward to playing most, its considered the biggest rivalry for the two teams—by fans and players.

Alaska comes to town for games on Wednesday, Feb. 8 (dollar beer night presented by Bud Light), Friday, 10 (Steelheads draw-string logo bag–while supplies last), and Saturday, Feb. 11. Cepis and his fellow Steelheads will have their chance this week to pick up a few extra points in the standings—currently in 5th place.

The preceding article was written by Dan Miller, a marketing student participating in the Idaho Steelheads Internship Program presented by The Arbiter. For additional information, visit idahosteelheads.com/boisestate

Cepis scores twice to help Idaho win its second game last week in front of sellout crowd of 5,200 at CenturyLink Arena.

This past week the Steelheads went 2-1 in three games, two against the Stockton Thunder (Tuesday and Wednesday) and one game against the Utah Grizzlies (Friday).

In the first meeting against the Stockton Thunder, the game started out at a defensive stalemate with neither team getting many shots on goal in the first period.

But once the second period began the Steelheads did not waste much time, scoring quickly to gain a 1-0 lead, within two minutes of starting the period.

However, after that moment the Steelheads seemed to be out-matched when the Thunder countered and came with a vengeance scoring less than 30 seconds later to tie the game and scoring two more times before the end of the second period.
Stockton would add one more goal in the third period to win the game 4-1.

Jerry Kuhn, the Steelheads goalie came out Wednesday night and played with a chip on his shoulder producing a shutout and earned a 1-0 victory to salvage a 1-1 series split with the Thunder.

From start to finish the Steelheads played to their strengths—tough physical play, driving numerous Thunder players hard into the boards, inducing a fight at one point in the second period.

Late in the game when the Thunder players needed to focus, one of their defensemen tried to trip a Steelheads player with his stick during a face-off provoking the Steelheads bench, the Stockton player turned to the bench and tried to start and all out brawl, however the referees were able to get everybody settled down. It forced Stockton to play a man down for the remainder of the game, essentially giving the Steelheads the win.

Friday night’s redemption game against the rival Utah Grizzlies in front of a sellout crowd of 5,200 (standing room only) CenturyLink Arena was packed to the rafters and the crowd was in for a show.

For the third night in a row, the Steelheads waited till the second period to score their first goal of the game. A fight broke out in the second period sending the sellout crowd into a craze.

After the second period the Grizzles held a lead of 2-1, but the fans weren’t down and out just yet.

During the second intermission a flash mob broke-out to the tune of a remix of LMFAO’s Party Rock Anthem—giving the crowd a two and half minute show.

Idaho’s Jacob Cepis tied the game early in the third period with a goal between the legs of Utah’s goalie. Then again with about five minutes left, Cepis again stole the puck and scored with a backhanded shot on a breakaway (yet again between the goalies legs) sending the crowd into a standing ovation for what would prove to be the game winning goal.

The next Idaho Steelheads home stand will be Wednesday Feb. 8, Friday Feb. 10 and Saturday Feb. 11 all versus the ECHL leading Alaska Aces.

The preceding article was written by Matthew Fritz, a marketing student participating in the Idaho Steelheads Internship Program presented by The Arbiter.

The Utah Grizzlies take on the Idaho Steelheads at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho on October 15, 2011. (Otto Kitsinger for Steve Conner/Idaho Steelheads)

Kory Scoran, alternate captain and defensemen for the Idaho Steelheads returned at the beginning of this season from the Holland league in Europe.

Since his arrival, Scoran suffered a broken finger and was put on the 21-day injury reserve which left him out of the roster.

The injury affected his play to the point that he wasn’t able to shoot and wasn’t able to play his brand of physical hockey.

“This is the longest I’ve been out of the game due to injury, but I’ve been very fortunate to have only suffered a broken finger and not a dislocated shoulder,” said Scorzi (nickname given by his teammates).

When put on injured reserve players tend to alienate themselves from the team and focus solely on getting better. The Steelheads rallied behind Scoran to ensure that his role was still vital to the players’ success, which left Scoran motivated to return to his troops and be a dominant force in defense.

During the injury, Scoran would stay in shape by skating at Idaho Ice World, while the Steelheads were traveling and do conditioning drills so his body would be ready for live action, upon return.

Scorzi’s knowledge of hockey, his worth ethic and leadership skills came from his dad, beginning at the age of three. As with all athletes, players go through ups and downs in careers, but Scoran’s came all too soon.

In 1998, Kory played for the MJHL, but all of his prior teammates moved up to the upper division, which left Kory behind in a lower league. Some say this affects pride, but instead of letting it come all down on him he rose above the situation and was out with a vengeance to prove he belonged.

During that season Kory Scoran won the most valuable defenseman while winning the Bantam “AAA” Hockey League.

“I wouldn’t have been the hockey player I am today, this taught me (that) nothing comes easy and you have to work hard to get where you are going,” said Scoran on his early days in the MJHL.

Kory Scoran doesn’t lack motivation, which has helped him become successful on the ice for the Idaho Steelheads. The 2006-07 season, with the Steelheads, he had his most memorable moment on the ice, after winning the ECHL Kelly Cup, and most improved player by his teammates, Scoran’s success was reflected by his work ethic endured at a young age.

Scoran’s style of hockey is a big contributor to the Steelheads success this season. Playing in 22 games his dominance has been felt by other teammates and has surged the Steelheads for playoff contenders.

The preceding article was written by Marcus Scott, a marketing student participating in the Idaho Steelheads Internship Program presented by The Arbiter. For additional information, visit idahosteelheads.com/boisestate.

The second week of December brought the Colorado Eagles to Boise for a home-stand against the Idaho Steelheads.

This anticipated matchup is now split heading into the final game of the series. But, hockey is not the only thing on the minds of Steelhead fans as they prepared for a series end on Saturday night.

Toys-for-Tots is back and the excitement is bigger than ever. In preparation for this event, Rocky Johnson and members from our Marine Corps announced the event on Wednesday and Friday night.

Wednesday night brought heartbreak as a 2-0 lead in the first period would not hold. Just 90 seconds after the Steelheads’ second goal the Eagles would answer with a bit of luck.

A bad bounce of the puck off the glass led to a goal by the Eagles. The early momentum the Steelheads had was gone by the end of the first.

At the end of the first period, the score was tied at two. With a goal in the second and a goal in the third, the Eagles took game one of the series and looked to take control of the series with a win on Friday night.

Friday night would prove to be the game of the season for many Steelhead fans. The team again led 2-0 in the first period with both goals scored within 25 seconds of each other.

Unlike Wednesday night, the Eagles were not able to answer in the first period, ending 2-0.

However in the second, the fast-paced scoring that set the tone in this series would continue in favor of the Eagles with two quick goals.

The second period ended with another goal on each side and the score tied at three. The crowd had a sense this game could be the game of the year with another Steelheads goal early in the third period.

Little did anyone know, the Eagles would answer and send the game into overtime. Tied at four the battle continued, but remained tied at the end of overtime. The crowd rallied as the first home shootout began.

The Steelheads quickly scored on their first two shots while Colorado missed. Colorado answered with a goal to put the pressure back on Idaho. With a chance to place the Eagles in a must score situation, the Steelheads had their one and only stumble as they would make three out of four shootout goals.

The crowd lost control as the Steelheads held off the Eagles for the most exciting win of the year. The series tie heads into Saturday night, with Toys-for-Tots and a Steelheads win on the minds of all.

The preceding article was written by Dan Miller, a marketing student participating in the Idaho Steelheads Internship Program presented by The Arbiter.

Playing in 800 professional games is a huge milestone for any athlete, and two weeks ago in Colorado, Idaho Steelheads Captain Marty Flichel achieved that milestone.

The 5-foot-11-inch, 195-pound right wing has played professionally for a total of 16 years—nine of those seasons have been with the Idaho Steelheads, East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) affiliate of the Dallas Stars.

“This is a fairly big accomplishment, but I was unaware of it being my 800th game,” explained the humble captain. Flichel has no intentions of slowing down now, going on to say, “I’m not stopping at 800 games.”

Growing up in the hockey country of Canada, hockey became natural to “Flich” (pronounced “Flick”). He learned how to skate by the age of two and began playing hockey when he was four.

His passion for hockey led him to join the Western Junior Hockey League and had to leave home at the young age of 16 to move to the United States to pursue his career in hockey—common place for hockey players.

He was drafted in the ninth round by the Dallas Stars in 1994. He spent two more seasons playing major-junior hockey before turning pro, playing six seasons in the ECHL, WCHL, IHL and overseas in England before coming to Idaho to play for the Steelheads.

Along with his recent accomplishment, Flichel has achieved many top awards such as the ECHL player of the week (multiple times) and was selected to ECHL’s All Decade team.

Although his greatest accomplishment occurred back in 2006-2007 when the Steelheads beat the Dayton Bombers for the Kelly Cup.

Following this season, Marty was named to the All-ECHL First Team, becoming the first Steelhead to reach this accomplishment.

As team captain, Flichel serves as a mentor for some of the younger players and puts forth effort to help them become better players. Teammate and left wing Michael Neal describes Flichel as a team-first kind of guy, a good role model and a motivator.

“He stays true to character even off the ice,” Neal said. “Marty is a guy to have in the locker room and he’s fun to goof around with. (He’s) the face of the Idaho Steelheads.”

“(Hockey’s an) action sport with a lot of excitement,” Flichel said. “To watch a game on television does not give it justice.”

Flichel encourages anyone who has not been to a game yet to come check one out and support the local Idaho Steelheads.

The Steelheads face the Colorado Eagles at home Friday (free car magnet to first 1,000 fans) and Saturday for the annual Toys for Tots promotion.

The puck drops at 7:10 p.m. for all games and every Wednesday night home game is Dollar Beer Night.

This article was written by Jordan Warwick, a marketing student participating in the Idaho Steelheads Internship Program presented by The Arbiter.

Chris Hepp, a 6-foot-1-inch, 200-pound defenseman for the Idaho Steelheads—the ECHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars—will not hesitate to drop the gloves and swing some fists to stand up for his teammates.

It’s hard to believe that his colleagues say he is one of the most humble and mild-mannered people off the ice. However, when the puck drops, a mental switch flips and he does everything in his power to beat the opposing team. When opponents face “Hepper,” they shouldn’t expect him to lend a smile until the clock reads 0:00.

Hepp hails from hockey country—Savage, Minn. Many fans may actually know him as The Man of 1,000 Mustaches. This nickname comes from a game the Steelheads play during practice in which two players play a one-on-one game of hockey and the loser has to grow a unique mustache.

Hepp is 1-1 all time in these games, but humbly chose to grow a mustache both times, quickly becoming known around the league not only for his playing style, but his random facial hair, too.

Hepp started skating at 4 years old and began playing hockey at age five. He remembers that ever since he picked up his first hockey stick, it was a dream of his to play in the National Hockey League. Even as a little kid he wanted to be a hard-hitting defenseman. He grew up molding his playing style after his favorite players: Scott Stevens of the New Jersey Devils and Chris Chelios of the Chicago Blackhawks, both of whom were considered hard-hitting defensemen of the NHL.

After high school, Hepp was given the chance to play for a top tier hockey institution close to home, St. Cloud State, in St. Cloud, Minn., where he later met his wife, who played soccer for the university.

In January of this year, Hepp decided to leave college early to pursue a career in professional hockey with the Steelheads. He said he felt it was too good of an opportunity to pass up—being able to play the game he has always loved and be a professional hockey player. In his first game, Hepp didn’t even seem to break a sweat.

From the first puck drop as a professional until now, Hepp feels this has been the most memorable time of his hockey career.

Highlighting that time frame was beating the Las Vegas Wranglers in five games during last year’s Kelly Cup Playoff run. “Hepper” was a key component to helping the Steelheads advance to the conference semi-finals versus Alaska.

The Steelheads take on the Las Vegas Wranglers Friday and Saturday. Puck drops at 7:10 p.m. for all games.

Boise State students can purchase tickets for $11 which includes a free small beer or soda with valid student ID at CenturyLink Arena Box Office or online at idahosteelheads.com with the promo code BSUMatt at checkout.

This article was written by Matt Fritz, a marketing student participating in the Idaho Steelheads Internship Program presented by The Arbiter.

On this episode of AST, we discuss the tough weekend for Boise State sports in both men’s and women’s basketball and tennis. Kirk references Mamma Jamma and Trent talks about his trip to the McCall Winter Carnival, plus much more! You can leave your comments and questions on AST’s Facebook page.

After starting the season 0-7, the Boise State men’s hockey club has completely turned around its season. The Broncos hosted Central Washington, Eastern Washington and Washington State this weekend in a tournament. The Broncos made it to the championship game where they dominated Eastern Washington 8-1.

“This is a magical team. We really struggled and they’ve come through and you can really see the results,” head coach Ken Beaudreau said.

“Teams can either fall apart when they face adversity or come together. They never started complaining, they always picked each other up and when that happens teams can do anything if they will not give up on each other.”

The Broncos did anything but fall apart this weekend as they enjoyed success and didn’t drop a single game.

In the championship on Sunday morning the Broncos jumped to an early 1-0 lead against Eastern Washington. Not to be outdone the Eagles tied the score late in the first period.

As the teams took the ice for the start of the second period the Broncos knew they needed to do something to jump-start their game. Team captain Eric Haskins took a quick shot on goal and put the Broncos up 2-1 just 25 seconds into the period.

“One spark will create new momentum,” Beaudreau said of the goal.

The Broncos superb penalty kill helped maintain their momentum as they fought off two Eastern Washington power plays.

“We have an excellent penalty kill. We have Matt Heady and Tyler Maier, two of the best penalty killers ever that I’ve ever coached,” Beaudreau raved about his team.

At 13:39 in the second period Eastern Washington was sent to the penalty box for tripping which gave a high-pressure offensive attack from Boise State a window to extend its lead. The Broncos couldn’t push in a goal on the power play but seconds after the Eagles were back to full strength Maier scored to give the Broncos a 3-1 advantage.

From that goal there wasn’t much the Eagles could do to stop the momentum train on which Boise State was rolling. Six seconds after the Maier goal, J.T Smith found the back of the net on a face off win and quick one timer from near the blue line. The Broncos cruised to a 4-1 upper hand and never looked back.

“Eastern is a really talented team and we really stressed not giving them any momentum and once we got one we really took off and guys believed in each other and really played as a team,” Haskins said.

The Broncos carried are their momentum to the third period as they rolled to an 8-1 victory. The Broncos sharp shooters were on their game during the power plays as they fired off three goals in the third to guarantee the Bronco victory.

“Well the start of the new semester we kind of took it as starting over and to start of our tournament with intensity. The guys came in committed and really worked hard,” Haskins said.

“A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.” Wayne Gretzky

Cody Lampl, a hockey enthusiast, dreamed that one day he would be able play professional hockey.

Cody was born in Pennsylvania, but grew up in Ketchum, Idaho where the hockey community was nearly non-existent. Ice skating, on the other hand, was somewhat popular given the location and from a young age Cody and his friends became fond of hockey. During the winter months, the local soccer field at Atkinson Park was frozen over by the city and used for ice skating. Every day after school, Cody and his friends would head over to the park and play hockey from 2:30 p.m. until dark.

“Our parents would pick us up from the park at night, and we would do it all over again the next day,” Cody said.

It wasn’t enough though for Lampl to simply play in his hometown for his entire life. At the age of 16, Lampl acknowledged that staying in Idaho would hinder his potential to pursue his hockey dream. With his skill acquired through high-school and prior, Lampl left his friends, family and former lifestyle to play in Dallas, Texas with the Dallas Midgets.

After a year of success, he was given the opportunity to play with the USHL Sioux Falls team in South Dakota, the highest tier program for his age in the United States. At the age of 18, Lampl was traded to a top program in Chicago for his age, before being picked up by Colorado College where he spent his 4-year collegiate career.

“I sent letters to several Division III schools while playing in Idaho, but never heard a word back; and then a year after playing in Chicago I’m being offered full-ride scholarships by Division I schools,” Lampl chuckled.

The popularity and emphasis placed on hockey in places like Illinois, Colorado and South Dakota is similar to that of football in Boise, therefore consistently producing great hockey players.

Lampl grew up around the Steelheads, and watched the second game ever played at Qwest Arena in 1997. He knew very well in his mind what he wanted to accomplish, and that was playing in the ECHL.

“I received a call soon after finishing up my career at Colorado College from Derek Laxdal of the Steelheads saying he wanted to see me play,” Cody recalled.

After proving himself as one of the best, not only did Lampl reach his dream of becoming a professional hockey player, but he became the first player with Idaho roots to skate for the Steelheads.

“Every time I step on the ice I play as hard as I can for my friends, family, teammates,” Lampl says. He highly credits these individuals because for one reason or another they have helped him become the person he is today. “If you want it bad enough, you’ll attain it.”

Cody Lampl believes this and has shown through dedication and hard work that anything is possible. He is a great individual, fantastic hockey player, and your local Idaho Steelhead.

The preceding article was written by Austin Rogerson, a Boise State marketing student participating in the Idaho Steelheads Internship Program presented by the Arbiter.
For additional information, visit idahosteelheads.com/boisestate.

ARBITER FILE PHOTO - Club hockey hopes to keep its momentum going this weekend when Central Washington comes to town. The teams play Friday and Saturday at Qwest Arena.

The Boise State men’s ice hockey club looks to turn the corner and continue its hot streak this week as the Broncos host Central Washington Friday and Saturday at Qwest Arena. The club has won three of its last four and hope to finish strong going into winter break.

After beating Portland State 9-4 and 5-4 in its previous home-stand, BSU split its two-game road trip at BYU, 5-8 and 3-1. The team fought through a rough start this season going 2-12 in its first 14 games, but looks to be righting the ship as it enters the second half of the season.

“They create a bond, they create a trust and they get a chemistry going. It appears they’re playing better but what’s truly happening is they’re playing together, they’re playing as a team,” second-year head coach Ken Beaudreau said.

While the club is only in its fourth year of existence, it has seen tremendous strides in support and interest. Much of that success can be attributed to club president and founder Dalton Smith.

“A lot of people don’t realize, even on the team, that Dalton has carried this team for that amount of time (four years). Keeping it legitimate with BSU, always working to get it better,” Beaudreau said. “Dalton’s not the most vocal guy on the club but when he says something he means it and guys listen.”

With no seniors and 18 freshman, leadership is a point of emphasis for this squad, as well as learning to play together. The club has doubled in size over the last year and is gaining interest from potential recruits along with the community. One thing they’re still hoping for is an interest from other Boise State students.

“We have to build our fan base out of the BSU student body,” Beaudreau said. “We go to these other schools where there’s 1,000 to 1,500 students at the game, it makes all the difference in the world.”

The puck drops at 10:30 p.m. Friday night and 1:30 p.m. Saturday. These will be the final two games until after Christmas break when the Broncos will host a four team tournament at Qwest Arena, Jan. 13-16.

A Few questions with Dalton Smith, club founder, president and team captain.

What are your greatest memories as a Boise State player?

“Beating University of Idaho in a shoot-out in front of 700 fans. They were a ranked team, we were kind of the underdogs.”

“Winning the tournament in McCall last year against the University of Utah and Washington State. It was a major turning point for us.”

What’s one word to describe this team?

“Passionate.”

What’s the next step for the program?

“Get ranked. The ultimate goal is to be a national contender, playing in national tournaments.”

What’s something most people don’t know about Boise State club hockey?

After a crushing 9-3 loss Friday to the University of Colorado, the Boise State Broncos club hockey team (1-8-1) succumbed the Buffaloes again Saturday 6-3 in Qwest Arena.

The Broncos, who play in Division II, played a fast paced, crafty Division III Colorado team, who were crowned Division III national champions two years ago. Compared to the previous night’s game, the Broncos improved a bit.

“Well I think our improvement from yesterday was very dramatic,” head coach Ken Beaudreau said. “We were outscored really bad 9-3 yesterday. They had fire, they had passion, they played well and looked more as a team. They took it to the guys physically. They’re a very physical team, the team we just played were (Division III) champions two years ago. We got a very young team.”

The first period was anyone’s game as the puck switched from the different sides, showing no true dominant force in the game. Freshman forward Eric Haskins struck the first goal of the game, giving the Broncos their first and only lead.

From that point on, it was Buffalo domination. Swift puck movement, sharp finesse and quick slap shots were the ingredients to Colorado’s success in the second period, raising the score to 5-1.

The Broncos slowed the Buffaloes a bit in the beginning of the third period when junior defenseman Cortland Smith shot one through the net to rejuvenate the Bronco team.

“I just came down and shot and went under him,” Smith said. “The goalie was off place and it was awesome.”

Boise State was able to tack on one more goal before allowing another Buffalo goal that eventually ended the scoring at 6-3. Colorado took 27 total shots while the Broncos had 26.

The one thing both Beaudreau and Smith said that the team needs to improve upon the most is speed and conditioning.

“If we got more speed, we’re going to do OK,” Beaudreau said.

“Conditioning and passing and kids not panicking with the puck,” Smith said. “They get it and they freak out.”

It doesn’t take long for students, especially first year students, at Boise State University to be exposed to the athletics and school spirit that it has. The attention that BSU has received over the past few years is a possible reason why students have made their decision to become a student. For other students, the athletic department or a specific program is the deciding factor in someone choosing to attend BSU.

Not every student at BSU gets the pleasure and opportunity to play at the varsity level. For those who don’t, Boise State offers many different club sports. Not all the major and popular sports are represented but instead other sports and activities that offer exercise, fun and competition while representing the Broncos.

Most of the club sports on campus do not compete in organized leagues but there are handfuls that do.These leagues are very competitive and a lot of pride comes with these teams.

“Men’s and women’s lacrosse, our baseball club, rugby, ice hockey, those to name a few that tend to be competitive,” assistant director of Rec Sports at Boise State Alain Rodrigue said. “They have a full home and away season, a full coaching staff. They fundraise a lot and are pretty competitive. Soccer (which begins its season in the fall), softball, women’s and men’s volleyball are on their way. The ones that seem to be more competitive seem to do better.”

Alainalso added the clubs Cycling, Triathlon and Paintball to the list of clubs that are competitive and successful.

Since Rodrigue’s arrival to BSU in 2003, the university has seen an increase in club sports and the number of students involved in them.

“When I got here, we started with 16 clubs and now we’re at 29,” Rodrigue said. “We probably had 240-250 student athletes and now were around 400. I anticipate it to grow, especially with the building of the [new] pool.”

The list of club sports at BSU includes a number of sports that some might call obscure. There are more mainstream sports but two that are missing from the list of mainstream are men’s and women’s basketball as well as football.Bronco football is a staple at Boise State, as is basketball but the only way for students to play these sports are on the varsity team.

“Football, like hockey, is expensive to make happen,” Rodrigue said. “…Potentially football could happen. But then whom would you play? You need other universities to have club teams.”

As for basketball, Rodrigue talked about the many opportunities to play basketball, not only on the BSU campus, but also in many other leagues and at other venues, there just isn’t real demand for club basketball.

“Intramural basketball is our number one intramural [sport],” Rodrigue said.

At the start of every fall, the officers of the club sports work the hardest to recruit students to be a part of the team who will be competing that year. It’s in the summer and the first weeks of the fall semester that clubs receive the most inquiries about the club,what it is about and other questions that might be offered up. The amount recruiting done is up each individual club. They do get help from theCampusRec and the university. Posters, fliers, and on-campus events are mediums through which clubs can reach students but as Rodrigue put it, “at the end of the day, if they want to recruit, it is on them.”

Through out the summer monthsand without a doubt through the first weeks of the 2010 Fall Semester, there will be plenty of opportunities to find information and get connected with a club sport.

Club sports are a great way for students to be a part of team that competes in playing a sport they enjoy. It promotes healthy activity, teamwork and community service all while representing Boise State University.

If BSU doesn’t have a club sport that students wish to have, the process starts with an email to Alain Rodrigue.

COURTESY/IDAHO STEELHEADS - Idaho's Tyler Spurgeon battles with Alaska Aces goalie Scott Reid in front of the net at Qwest Arena during game in February. Spurgeon has become a leader for the Steelheads during his first season with the program.

Tyler Spurgeon, the 5’11’ center from Edmonton, Alberta, has been playing at a high level throughout his first season here with the Idaho Steelheads. His outstanding first year started out with two assists with a win over Stockton on the Oct. 16. Just two days later Spurgeon recorded his first goal as a Steelhead against Stockton.

Since then Spurgeon has racked up 26 goals and 36 assists.

“As the center position your getting looked to distribute the puck and get the pucks to your wingers,” said Spurgeon. “I am lucky that I play with some great wingers that can score some goals, so it’s really important that I get the puck to them.”

For a first year player, his outstanding numbers reflect the leadership role that he has attributed throughout the season.

“It’s definitely a privilege to have that role,” Spurgeon said.

Spurgeon’s successful first year has had an effect on his team’s performance as a whole. Spurgeon recognizes that his team has the ability to go a long way into the playoffs.

“We got a great group of guys, with a win or loss, that make’s the experience a lot easier,” said Spurgeon.

Spurgeon was recently named as the team’s captain for the last two home games against the Utah Grizzlies.

“It’s an honor to have that title right now, but my teams success is more important,” Spurgeon said. “I see everyone as a leader on this team. That is what is so great about our team. Anyone can step-up at any given time.”

Off the ice Spurgeon likes to relax and take advantage of the down time that is given to the guys.

“I like to unwind whether it’s cooking or reading a book,” Spurgeon said. “I just like to take it easy. I’m a pretty low-key kind of guy.”

Boise is a new city for Spurgeon. Living in Idaho’s capital city has been an easy adjustment for him on and off the ice.

“Boise has a lot to offer, and really think that the city is very welcoming to the athletic teams here,” Spurgeon said. “We have great fans here, and I am really grateful for the opportunity to be able to play in this environment.”

Spurgeon believes that it will take the entire effort of his team to make it far in the play-offs and reaching the ultimate prize of a Kelly Cup Championship. With two games left on the regular season schedule, the team holds their goals of winning games in the playoffs most significant.

“Our goal’s are to go far in the playoffs, and win the championship,” Spurgeon said. “It’s not too often you get a group of guys that bond as well as we have, win as many games, and play as well. We want to take advantage of that when it happens.”

The Steelheads will be hosting their last regular season home-games this Saturday and Sunday against the Victoria Salmon Kings in the Quest Arena at 7pm.

The following preceding was written by Kaylea Perenon, a marketing student participating in the Idaho Steelheads Internship Program presented by The Arbiter.

COURTESY/IDAHO STEELHEADS - Idaho native defensiveman Cody Lampl is in his first season playing with the Steelheads.

Typically Idaho is known for their homegrown potatoes not a homegrown professional hockey player.

Starting his hockey career for the Sun Valley Suns at 7-years old, it would have been hard to predict by the age of 23 he would be playing professional hockey for the Idaho Steelheads. But nonetheless on November 7, 2009, Cody Lampl made his Idaho Steelheads home debut in front of an electrifying crowd, curious to see what this kid was made of.

Lampl, who was born in Pittsburgh, moved to Ketchum, Idaho in 1993 where he calls home. Growing up in Idaho, Lampl idolized “Super” Mario Lemieux and always wished one day he’d be playing professional hockey. During his junior year of high school Cody moved to Dallas, Texas, and played for the Dallas Stars Midget AAA team while he lived with a host family.

“In the first two weeks I was there, I verbally committed to play for Colorado College and the Sioux Falls Stampede,” Lampl said.

During Lampl’s four-year tenure at Colorado College, they always found themselves as one of the top ten or fifteen teams in the country. They also won a WCHA regular season title, won the MacNaughton Cup, and made it to the Frozen Four tournament twice.

Known for his physical play, Lampl led CC in hits the last three years of school despite only playing fifteen games during his final season.

When asked what’s more satisfying a goal, an assist or a hit, Lampl responded, “I’ll tell you what, I enjoy everything, but it feels good to dummy a guy in the open ice. I’ll take a great hit at home, crowd goes wild and momentum swings our way.”

Making an impact on the ice is what every hockey player strives to do, but it’s those special ones who make a difference off the ice. Inspired by some friends who struggled with the law while growing up, Lampl wanted to give back to the community.

Lampl helped create a local program for high school students attending Frank Church Alternative School. Cody visits the students every week roaming the halls as if he were a student himself, helping out in class and sending a positive message of how staying in school is important. Students who attended classes 90 percent of the time were awarded a free ticket to February 10 home game against Utah Grizzlies.

Being a hometown hero and at the helm of the Steelheads defense fans may wonder what is the best part about being from Idaho and playing for Idaho?

“Just that all my friends and family can watch me and I get to be with them when I’m off the ice,” Lampl said.

Come support Cody and the Idaho Steelheads in their next home stand against the Utah Grizzlies February 12 and 13 all starting at 7:10 p.m.

Boise State wrestling dropped their second dual to an unranked opponent this season against Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Friday night 22-20.

BSU (13-3, 6-0 Pac-10) fell behind early with losses in 125, 133, 165 and 174-pound classes to the Wolverines (8-2).

The Broncos were within reach headed into the heavy weight match down 22-17 but were unable to capitalize in the points, scoring only three points in a 6-4 decision by BSU heavy weight Sam Zylstra.

The Broncos take the mat against Oregon State Feb. 12 at the Beauty and the Beast Competitions. The event features gymnastics and wrestling competitions. Wrestling begins at 7 p.m.

Swim and dive earn academic accolades

EVANSTON, Illinois – The Boise State swimming and diving team has earned a spot on the College Swimming Coaches Association of America’s Scholar Athlete All-America list with a 3.24 team GPA for the fall 2009 semester. The Broncos made the list last year, but made a significant jump up the ranks with a much improved GPA.

The annual honor is given to teams that achieve a 3.00 GPA or better in the fall semester. This year, 341 teams made the list, which is the largest number since the CSCAA raised the criteria for selection in 2008. The 341 teams represent 241 colleges and universities across both genders and all three NCAA divisions.

The Broncos were one of six Western Athletic Conference teams to be named on the list. The Gardner-Webb women’s team led all Division I programs with a 3.52 team GPA.

The Broncos hope to extend their success to the pool when they compete at the WAC Championships on Feb. 24-27 in San Antonio, Texas.

Touchdown Club of Columbus honors Broncos

Jeremy Avery and Kellen Moore were honored by the Touchdown Club of Columbus for their performances this season and high expectations for next season.

Moore was honored with the Award of Distinction and Avery as on of eight Players to Watch for 2010. Moore was honored with the same award a year ago by the Touchdown Club of Columbus.

Moore was a first-team All-American selection with ESPN.com, SI.com and CBSSports.com and third-team All-American Associate Press selection. He was named WAC Offensive player of the year and boasts the BSU season passing touchdown record with 39 during his 2009-10 campaign. He also finished the nations second most efficient passer (161.65), completing 64.3 percent of his passes and leading the category for most of the season.

Avery finished an All-WAC second-team selection after averaging 5.51 yards per carry during the 2009-10 season. Avery was a threat through the air with 23 receptions for 257 yards.

The Broncos released that the Broncos meeting with Virginia Tech was moved to Labor Day (Sept. 6) and will officially be their season opener for the 2010 season. The game is at Fed Ex Field in Washington, D.C. and scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. The game will be aired on ESPN.

BSU club hockey upends Gonzaga 8-3

The Boise State men’s ice hockey club skated to an 8-3 victory over Gonzaga University Friday night at Idaho Ice World. It was the third straight victory for the Broncos over the Bulldogs this season.

The Idaho Steelheads (19-4-2) held on tight late in the third period to clench the 2-1 victory over the Ontario Reign (10-12-3) Friday evening at Qwest Arena. Marty Flichel and John Swanson were able to place the puck in the net for the Steelheads. However, it would be an outstanding performance by the Steelheads’ defense late in the third period, that would secure their third win in December.

The game began to an entertaining start when left wing, Adam Huxley and the Reign’s David Walker engaged in a fight in the first few seconds. Qwest Arena stood in awe as they watched the two players go at it. Not long after, at 3:48 in the first period, Flichel found the back of the net on a power play after receiving a pass from Matt McKnight. This goal would put the Steelheads on the board first with a 1-0 lead.

At the 15:81 in the second period, a Steelhead goal that clearly crossed the goal line was called back on an early whistle. Some of the 3,478 fans in Qwest Arena immediately jumped to their feet in anger as they yelled and screamed chants that were indicating their resentment against the goal being called back by the referees. There was a brief deliberation, but the goal ultimately didn’t count. Less than a minute later, the Steelheads were able to put their second goal in the net when Swanson, who now has four goals on the season, framed the goal to score off a re-bound shot from Ashton Rome.

Goalkeeper, Rejean Beauchemin was one of the Steelheads outstanding players on the evening along with Swanson and McNight. Beauchemin was able to stop most of the Reign’s scoring opportunities that came in the third period. Beauchemin had 16 stops on the evening. His biggest stop came at 12:22 when right wing, Brandan Kushniruk, was able to deflect a shot from the Reign and goalkeeper, Beachemin was able to make the save. After letting a two goal lead slip away at Wednesday night’s game, the Steelheads improved their performance and held on for the win Friday night.

“We haven’t been that great at home, so we wanted to come out and have a good start,” Beauchemin said. “We did a pretty good job, and we wanted to make sure we didn’t sit back in the third, but also protect the lead.”

The Ontario Reign scored their first goal early in the third period when John Landry shot the puck, which deflected off Beauchemin. Overall, the Steelheads’ defense took control of the game – killing off a crucial 5-on-3 Ontario power play in the third period – resulting in a 2-1 victory. “That kill for three minutes won us the game and that was huge for us,” concluded Rejean Beauchemin, the night’s top star.

The Idaho Steelheads are home again this Wednesday versus the Utah Grizzlies, as well as Friday and Saturday when they host the Alaska Aces.

Disclaimer: The Preceding article was written by Kaylea Perenon, a communications student participating in the Idaho Steelheads Internship Program presented by The Arbiter. For addition information, visit: idahosteelheads.com

COURTESY/IDAHO STEELHEADS The Steelheads' Adam Huxely is seen fighting during a hockey game this season. Huxely is known for changing the momentum of a game by dropping gloves and going to blows

One player can change the momentum of a hockey game. That player is the guy who drops the gloves and energizes his teammates and the crowd. Every hockey team has that guy that brings hope. A guy that makes sure that no opposing player will hurt the team’s star players. A guy that will get under opposing players’ skin which throws players off their game or even draw penalties.

Adam Huxley is that player for the Idaho Steelheads.

Every team needs an enforcer, a type of bodyguard for the team, which knows their role on the team and does their job accordingly.

Like many Steelheads players before him (Craig Cescon, Jeremy Yablonksi, and Matt Nickerson), Huxley is quickly becoming a fan favorite. In twenty games for the Steelheads, Huxley has been in seven fights with 49 penalty minutes so far. In the past three seasons with the Stockton Thunder, Huxley had racked up at least 200 penalty minutes.

Huxley’s first fight with the Steelheads came against his former team and former teammate, Garet Hunt. In the Steelheads second game of the season opening three game home stand against Stockton, Huxley went toe-to-toe with Hunt. Huxley landed several shots and convincingly won the fight that helped boost the Steelheads to a 3-2 victory.

In his seventh season of professional hockey, Huxley is not only helping his team with his fists but also with his play in the offensive and defensive zones. Although he isn’t a guy who is expected to add offensively, he is a guy that does the little things right to help his team win. Whether that is getting pucks deep into the offensive zone or getting pucks out of the defensive zone, Huxley has proven that being a well-rounded player is better than just being able to fight.

With the help of Huxley, the Steelheads have raced to the top of the national standings in the ECHL. Huxley will keep opposing teams in check and help contribute any way he can while the Steelheads continue for their chance to play for the Kelly Cup.

Come watch Huxley and the Steelheads in action as they take on the Ontario Reign in a three game homestand on December 9th, 11th and 12th. All games start at 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 12th, the Steelheads will team up with the Booster Club and Marines to collect stuffed toys for children in need over the holidays; fans throw a stuffed toy on the ice during the first Steelheads goal and the Marine Corp collects and distributes to families. In addition, the event raises thousands in proceeds from the sale of toys at the game, so bring a stuffed toy or animal to throw onto the ice.

Boise State students present your student ID at the Qwest Arena Box Office for an $11 ticket plus a voucher for a FREE small beer or Pepsi. Limit 2 per ID.